Do we want the first leg to be home or away?

rolo wrote: Baldrick wrote: Trapped wrote: Defo home first. We are usually awful at home these days. Much better off to be away second leg, be written off after the uninspiring first leg home performance and then pull something out of the bag miraculously away from home.  Agreed I would take a 0-0 at home now knowing that the other tram would basically have to beat us to go through. I think away goals could be our best route to qualify The luas has speed on its side though. Even though it's a little inconsistent, I wouldn't fancy our chances to be honest. Whether they played the home leg on the red line or the green line, (the new line won't be ready on time for the match) we can expect a tough game.

Bit of reverse psychology here but since our away form has been better playing away first better option.

Trap junior wrote: kearney304 wrote: irishmufc wrote: kearney304 wrote: flaghunter wrote: Traditionally, the first leg away from home is seen as an advantage. But with our setup of only attacking when we need to score, being at home first would give us more time attacking away from home where away goals count double. The possibility of extra time would add to this argument. For example, defend the first leg and it finishes goalless. Second leg we fall one behind - at home we need to score twice when we finally decide to attack, away one goal sends us through. What do other ybiggers think? I can see both sides to this post. If you asked me though - gun to my head I think play away first. Worked for Bosnia, Estonia and Iran. Albeit weaker teams. I think we could will try keep it tight regardless because the quality of the 4 teams are better than some of the Euro playoffs. Probably be 0-0 away. Then try win 1-0 at the Aviva. Both games will be cagey affairs. Not like we will actually go for any of these teams. Say we drew Croatia. Kept it very tight, 0-0. Their fans would be going crazy. They would under HUGE pressure coming to Dublin. We would again keep it tight for at least an hour and then try nick it. I could see definitely see that working.  Other question is this - have we got lucky too many times? I believe anyways and I'm sure the players do. I'd imagine as soon as the draw is made the DOOM & GLOOM brigade will be out.  We were home to Iran first.  Apologies - couldn't remember and couldn't be arsed googling it  You are almost as lazy as Ashley Williams

Stickittotheman wrote: Unbeaten away from home and beat both Austria and Wales whilst being beaten at home once by Serbia and drawing the other 2 games against the top seeds. We have been shocking at home. Far far better away but thats the type of football we play it suits being away. Worst case scenario for me is Croatia away first.

Maybe it does, but it also suited us with the last coach in charge as well, setting new records and against far better sides than Wales and Austria, and all he got for it was begrudgery at best and complete condemnation at worst.

In the European Cup, teams that win the group get the second leg of their second round tie at home. The vast majority of them take advantage of it and go through to the quarter finals. Having the second leg at home in any cup tie is, a good chance to either rescue a tie after a poor away leg, or in the case of winning 4-0 away, a formality in front of thousands of your own fans.

Hierro did Keane a favour in 93 by heading that ball in against them to send us to the World Cup. Today, he did him another favour by handing us a second leg home tie against them, to help send us to the World Cup. Uncanny.